Unity Arts Carnival brings fusion of unity, gather Sibu community this Oct 19-20

by · Borneo Post Online
(Seated from left) Nasyitah, Hii, Kong, and Nur Amanina, together with event’s committee members invite the public to the Unity Arts Carnival at RH Hotel here this Oct 19 to 20. – Photo by Peter Boon

SIBU (Oct 4): The Unity Arts Carnival at RH Hotel here this Oct 19 to 20 is set to bring a cultural fusion of Chinese culture and Islamic art.

Organised by the Sibu Chinese Calligraphy Society, this inaugural carnival highlights the Chinese and Arabic calligraphy competition as the event’s focal point, alongside a series of activities such as cultural performances, indoor night bazaar, mini concerts, artisan market, and art workshops.

“It aims to bring communities together, and this year’s theme focuses on the harmonious blending of Chinese and Arabic calligraphy, symbolising how different cultural traditions can co-exist and enrich one another,” said the society’s president Hii Pee Long.

This carnival, he remarked, is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, and is facilitated under Dana Mudahcara Warisan, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Sarawak, with support from the Sibu State Library, RH Hotel, and Hidayah Centre Foundation Sarawak.

“We are honoured to bring together such a diverse range of artistic and cultural expressions under one roof, and this is not only a celebration of art and food, but also a platform to strengthen communal bonds,” Hii told the press.

The press conference here yesterday was also attended by Sibu State Library’s representative Nur Amanina Mastani, Persatuan Puisi dan Seni Khat Cina Rejang chairman Kong Pang Ping, and Hidayah Centre Foundation Sarawak advisor Nasyitah Abdullah.

Among the event’s lineup on Oct 19, he said, are the Chinese and Arabic calligraphy competitions and award presentation ceremony, which are set to take place from 1.30pm to 6pm.

Also to run simultaneously that Saturday will be the Sarawakiana workshop and exhibition on Arabic calligraphy and local artists’ artwork, the artisan market, followed by an indoor night bazaar from 6pm onwards.

For Oct 20, the public can visit University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) Confucius Institute and Al-Qadim Mosque from 9am till noon to see stunning pieces of the community’s art project.

At the same time, there will also be a series of activities taking place at RH Hotel on the event’s finale such as the artisan market, the Sarawakiana workshop, mini concerts, and cultural performances.